Speak With Me
Sacramento, California | Film Short
Drama, Global Celebration
There has never been a better time to support and uplift stories of culture, language, and immigration than now. This team has put not only their heart and souls into this project so far, but have shared stories and experiences that brought this story to life through their personal backgrounds.
Speak With Me
Sacramento, California | Film Short
Drama, Global Celebration
1 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $1,723 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
26 supporters | followers
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There has never been a better time to support and uplift stories of culture, language, and immigration than now. This team has put not only their heart and souls into this project so far, but have shared stories and experiences that brought this story to life through their personal backgrounds.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Everyday that passes, this story of multiculturalism proves itself to be ever more important. Being able to highlight and celebrate immigrants and also get to know a small sliver of these characters' lives as they realize they are losing their native languages is a part of immigration seldom seen.
While ICE threatens communities across the US, being able to encourage pluralism over fear and assimilation is our goal. There are many films telling the story of immigration from one culture, but few if any about multiple and about coming together in community.
The current state of immigration in the United States is built on centuries of English-WASP centric policies. Being able to maintain and express one's native language and culture and bond with others outside of it is what makes us stronger together. This film brings two characters from very different backgrounds together and shows their lives apart and shared.
Overall, the film shows these long upheld standards in many forms, while also showing the importance of pluralism over assimilation, and the beauty of maintaining ones' native language and culture to keep history living and not forgotten.
(Sydney on a past set)
On set, the whole cast and crew will be learning and using a new phrase of the day in Spanish, Persian, and Tagalog to reflect the linguistic diversity of everyone on set, as we want to put education and understanding at the forefront of our film.
Once the film is through in post-production, we will be sending it on a festival tour, and once that period is over, we want to make it accessible to you, the public, so anyone and everyone can see it for free. We will be posting all the behind-the-scenes videos, interviews, photos, education and entertaining bits, and updates on festivals and release dates on our Instagram @speakwithme.film so stay tuned! But, it's increasingly difficult to make a film without a little help, help we hope we can get from you. We want to make sure everyone is well feed and well hydrated on set, as well as that we have sets via AirBnB or city permitting, as well as good translations for this multilingual film and the proper props and wardrobe pieces. We also want to make sure we can tour the film, which in itself is probably our biggest cost. So, we hope we can build a strong community with you to share this film with you soon, and with that we hope maybe for today you can trade a coffee and pastry for a donation to this film (hard ask, I know, especially if it's a good pastry). Thank you, gracias, خیلی ممنونم!
(Sydney on a past project with DoP Kevin Carpio, center, and Gaffer Taylor G. Moore, left)
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Translation
Costs $320
As the film is in 3 different languages, we have the best translators on.
Feeding Our Team
Costs $1,650
Good food makes a happy production, we want to make sure everyone is fed lunch and plenty of snacks and drinks.
Department Aid
Costs $150
Any additional costs that arise during filming like last minute props or hard drives!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
We are so lucky to have such a talented and awesome team of folks! We have such a big team, will only mention a few here, but follow along on socials to learn more about everyone!
Written and Directed by Sydney Strange - Director for 10 years and loving every shoot and story! Historian on the side at SFSU and huge language nerd (if it wasn't evident from this film), learning French, Spanish, and Persian and probably many more later.
(Sydney and Quetzalma on a past set)
Produced by Quetzalma Pizzella - Not only an amazing producer, but a strong voice for female and Latino films and producers, something the world needs more of. Honored to have her always!
Starring,
Luna Diaz Contreras as "Izel" - A very talented actor and upcoming director herself, doing lots of amazing theater and film productions. She feels very connected to the character and is excited to portray her.
Fatemeh Mehraban as "Azadeh" - She is a queer Iranian performing artist with a huge catalogue of works from many mediums. She is excited to be able to show her Iranian heritage in a positive light.
(Luna)
(Fatemeh)
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Everyday that passes, this story of multiculturalism proves itself to be ever more important. Being able to highlight and celebrate immigrants and also get to know a small sliver of these characters' lives as they realize they are losing their native languages is a part of immigration seldom seen.
While ICE threatens communities across the US, being able to encourage pluralism over fear and assimilation is our goal. There are many films telling the story of immigration from one culture, but few if any about multiple and about coming together in community.
The current state of immigration in the United States is built on centuries of English-WASP centric policies. Being able to maintain and express one's native language and culture and bond with others outside of it is what makes us stronger together. This film brings two characters from very different backgrounds together and shows their lives apart and shared.
Overall, the film shows these long upheld standards in many forms, while also showing the importance of pluralism over assimilation, and the beauty of maintaining ones' native language and culture to keep history living and not forgotten.
(Sydney on a past set)
On set, the whole cast and crew will be learning and using a new phrase of the day in Spanish, Persian, and Tagalog to reflect the linguistic diversity of everyone on set, as we want to put education and understanding at the forefront of our film.
Once the film is through in post-production, we will be sending it on a festival tour, and once that period is over, we want to make it accessible to you, the public, so anyone and everyone can see it for free. We will be posting all the behind-the-scenes videos, interviews, photos, education and entertaining bits, and updates on festivals and release dates on our Instagram @speakwithme.film so stay tuned! But, it's increasingly difficult to make a film without a little help, help we hope we can get from you. We want to make sure everyone is well feed and well hydrated on set, as well as that we have sets via AirBnB or city permitting, as well as good translations for this multilingual film and the proper props and wardrobe pieces. We also want to make sure we can tour the film, which in itself is probably our biggest cost. So, we hope we can build a strong community with you to share this film with you soon, and with that we hope maybe for today you can trade a coffee and pastry for a donation to this film (hard ask, I know, especially if it's a good pastry). Thank you, gracias, خیلی ممنونم!
(Sydney on a past project with DoP Kevin Carpio, center, and Gaffer Taylor G. Moore, left)
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Translation
Costs $320
As the film is in 3 different languages, we have the best translators on.
Feeding Our Team
Costs $1,650
Good food makes a happy production, we want to make sure everyone is fed lunch and plenty of snacks and drinks.
Department Aid
Costs $150
Any additional costs that arise during filming like last minute props or hard drives!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
We are so lucky to have such a talented and awesome team of folks! We have such a big team, will only mention a few here, but follow along on socials to learn more about everyone!
Written and Directed by Sydney Strange - Director for 10 years and loving every shoot and story! Historian on the side at SFSU and huge language nerd (if it wasn't evident from this film), learning French, Spanish, and Persian and probably many more later.
(Sydney and Quetzalma on a past set)
Produced by Quetzalma Pizzella - Not only an amazing producer, but a strong voice for female and Latino films and producers, something the world needs more of. Honored to have her always!
Starring,
Luna Diaz Contreras as "Izel" - A very talented actor and upcoming director herself, doing lots of amazing theater and film productions. She feels very connected to the character and is excited to portray her.
Fatemeh Mehraban as "Azadeh" - She is a queer Iranian performing artist with a huge catalogue of works from many mediums. She is excited to be able to show her Iranian heritage in a positive light.
(Luna)
(Fatemeh)